CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — Despite disguising themselves as Walmart employees, four suspects were identified and connected to Walmart robberies across Virginia after allegedly stealing over $100,000 worth of Apple products. Several of the robberies were in Hampton Roads.
Previous Coverage: Docs: Suspects stole almost $40,000 of Apple products from Walmart
Walmart Global Investigations identified the suspects after three men entered the store on 632 Grassfield Pkwy., in Chesapeake, and stole around $38,000 worth of Apple products back in January. WAVY confirmed through court documents that similar thefts occurred in other Virginia cities, totaling around $118,000. A fourth suspect was later identified after being connected to the car used in the thefts. The investigation recovered some of the stolen goods as well as clothing items matching descriptions of the thieves.
On Jan. 4, three of the suspects walked into the Chesapeake Walmart and used a tool to open the cases holding the Apple products. They stole tens of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise and left in a dark pickup truck, according to court documents.
The first suspect wore all black with a beanie, and was around 6-feet tall. The second one was around 5’7″ and wore black with red shoes, and appeared to be wearing a Walmart employee badge. The third suspect was around 5’7″ to 5’10” and 115 lbs., and wore a grey zip-up hoodie covering his head, a black medical mask and a pair of black-rimmed glasses.
Based on descriptions provided by Walmart, the suspects were identified as Taeyon McClease, Tony McClease, Alexander Newman, respectively. And the owner of the truck, which was recovered in Hampton, was identified as Ariana Orkney.
The same suspects were connected to Apple thefts at Walmarts in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Yorktown and South Hill, Virginia between December and January.
Tony McClease and Newman were identified in connection to Roxboro, N.C., thefts. Tony McClease was identified based on tattoos seen in footage that matched prior booking photos, and by wearing the same clothing in the Jan. 4 Chesapeake Walmart robbery. Newman was identified after his mask fell down. Both are still wanted in Roxboro on outstanding warrants.
The last suspect was identified as Taeyon McClease, confirmed to be Tony’s brother, who had been arrested in a Walmart for shoplifting in Virginia and counterfeiting in North Carolina.
When Hampton Police searched the truck, they found a narcotic as well as two cell phones, a gun, a new apple iPad box matching the serial number of one stolen from Walmart. Two industrial lock keys were also found.
A search warrant on the car recovered Orkney’s vehicle title, a U-Haul receipt, a pair of black rimmed glasses, black medical mask, additional clothing matching suspects descriptions, a crowbar, screwdrivers, Walmart smocks and a Walmart ID badge.
No charges have been filed yet for the Chesapeake Walmart thefts, but Tony McClease is facing charges connected to a theft at a Norfolk Walmart.
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.
